4. How important is it to understand cultural differences when traveling overseas
?
Well, it is essential. People travel overseas for 2 main reasons I think: first, they want to see the
sites; and second, they want to learn about foreign cultures. Travelers should be open-minded and
ready to ask questions in order to learn about people's way of thinking, as well as their
habits
.
Tourists will enjoy their holiday even more if they appreciate these things. But I also
believe that it takes time to really understand a culture.
199
A Birthday
Tell me about a birthday (your own or someone else’s) that you enjoyed.
You should say:
what the occasion was
how you celebrated the birthday
whether you usually celebrate birthdays this way
and explain how you felt at this birthday celebration
·
Whose? Where?
·
Usually, birthdays are a bit boring
:
dinner with family
=
no big deal but…
·
Got together with friends + surprise
·
Cake
:
lit candles, blew them out, sang songs
·
Gifts cards
:
meaningful + considerate
·
Next year?
Let me tell you about my last birthday. In November, I turned 20 and I celebrated with my
classmates at school. I have been studying at university for 2 years now. I live and spend most of
my time with my roommates who are also my classmates.
On my birthday, we had class and actually, our schedule was pretty tight with a test and
some important lessons. It did not feel like a special day at all until night time
.
After dinner, my
roommates surprised me.
It was about 9 pm and my parents had just called me to wish me a happy birthday. Right after
I hung up the phone, my friends turned the lights off and brought a birthday cake into the room.
They had placed 20 candles in the chocolate frosting
(=
sugary cream on top of the cake)
.
They
also invited some other classmates of ours, and they all sang the birthday song for me, both in
Chinese and in English. They asked me to make a wish and to blow out the candles
.
I cannot tell
you what I wished for, otherwise it won't come true, but it had something to do with all the people
in the room at the time.
I cut the cake into small pieces and shared with everyone. Naturally, one of my good friends
spread some cake on my nose but I told them not to throw any cake around because I did not want
to waste any of it.
In addition, I was given a very large card where everyone had written a message to wish me
all the best. It was very considerate of all of my friends. My three roommates also bought me a
gift. It was a small box, very well-wrapped with a red ribbon tied around. There was a gorgeous
necklace inside, and I did not know what to say, or how to thank them: I was speechless. They
promised me that we would be friends forever, and I felt that I could really rely on them.
It was my second birthday away from my parents. The first one had been a bit sad the
previous year, but this one was absolutely wonderful and I plan to invite them all for dinner next
year for my twenty-first birthday
!
I am sure that we will have a blast
!
200
Do'stlaringiz bilan baham: |